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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, March 13, 1963
Being Student and Mother Leaves No Loafing Time
By Diane Brandon
It's a little better this semester — granted I have to get up earlier — but since I go to KU only three days a week, I can loaf the other two days.
That is, I can loaf after, I tell the kids and my husband to get out of bed, after I fix breakfast, after I drag the kids and my husband out of bed, after I fix lunches, after I tell the kids to hurry, and after I cook breakfast.
All I have to do then is tell the kids they only have 15 minutes before the bus comes; kiss my husband good-bye; tell the kids to hurry again; brush the girls' hair; inspect my son's face, hands and ears; find a missing school book, and shove the kids out the door.
Then I relax
THAT'S ONLY on my days off. The other three weekdays I do the same work plus getting ready myself — a job which involves rushing around looking for MY gloves or books.
I manage to jump into the car about five minutes late and then
spend the next 45 minutes (the time it takes to drive from my home to the campus) worrying about making it to class on time.
I used to tell friends that I didn't mind commuting — the trip was rather relaxing — but that was when I had a 9:30 instead of an 8:30 class. When I get home in the evening, I must first locate the kids, who usually beat me home.
Then I fix dinner and perform other chores of a wife and mother.
AFTER SUPPER I help the kids with their homework and finally dig into mine.
On the evenings before examinations I lock myself in a room immediately after dinner and dare anyone to enter. Of course, this encourages the kids to engage in a free-for-all outside my door.
On the evenings before tests I hate everybody, especially myself, and wonder why I am going to school. I envy my friends who are "just plain housewives" and beg my husband to let me quit school.
But only before examinations.